METHODOLOGY FOI ~ ESTAULISHING THE MINE/lED RESISTANCE CAI'ACITY OF VEHICLE SEATS FOR CREW PROTECTION

charactcristics that aim to improvc thc crew survivability \ \ hen cngaged by mine or Improvised Explosivc Device (lED). Increased ground clearancc. a V-shaped underbody, or high curb weight cooperate to reduce acceleration eITects to thc crew. The seat. as a critical component of the overall mine blast protection solution, is ollen overlooked. as evident by the significant number of non-blast-resistant seats featurcd in army vehicles. Ten unique MRAP-] candidate seat systems were obtained to evaluate their effectiveness at limiting venical and lateral acceleration effects to the crew. Using venical and horizontal shock machines and an instrumented THOR 50th percentile ATI). each scat was subjected to incremental venical shock teSts. The range of venical input sustained by all scats was from 5.8- 8.3 Ill/S for the scats assessed. Lateral tests conducted at two input levels indicate significant occupant-seat decoupling. Relativc displacement of the head's center of grnvity frOIll the scat varied from] 0-30 inches. I